At its Oct. 9 meeting the Athens Shade Tree Commission approved a right-of-way replant permit for 5 Sunnyside and approved a volunteer planting at Eastside Park, while residents pressed the city to provide stump-grinding and clearer staffing for on-the-ground tree work.

What happened: The commission voted to approve a replant application for 5 Sunnyside after members said the city had removed a tree there about two months earlier. The chair noted the commission can approve permits and distribute trees from its tree bank, but city staff currently do not perform stump grinding or site prep; the chair said stump removal has been handled at landowner expense. "We do not have a stump grinder at the city, and we don't have anybody that will take out the stumps or prep the sites," the chair said.

Residents described mixed past practices. Lorraine McCoster, a 59 Elmwood resident, told the commission that in prior years the city sometimes contracted stump grinding and sometimes left it to property owners. Amy Delich, who identified herself as chair of the Athens Environment and Sustainability Commission, said she and other neighbors had been told the city could not provide stump removal after a tree on her property was taken down.

Commissioners said the city previously had a staff position (the transcript references Ron Lucas) who handled tree work and that the vacancy has left planting and maintenance without a clear point person. Mary Reid of the Athens Arbor Day Committee said she has proposed updating the landscaping ordinance to require contractors the city hires to grind stumps after tree removals.

Plantings: The commission approved a request from Jen Bowman to plant about 20 to 25 trees behind Walmart in Eastside Park; the planting is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 1 (time not yet finalized, commissioners suggested around 11 a.m.). The commission also discussed a planned planting around the new outdoor gym near the firehouse along Simpson, to take place the following weekend (Saturday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m.), which is part of the citys Arbor Day activities and Tree City USA obligations.

Other maintenance items: Commissioners reported a dead silver maple near 4 Cook Drive that may require removal; staff asked for concurrence from property managers because the tree may be outside the city right-of-way. The commission also encouraged volunteers for at least one West Side planting organized by an Ohio University student, Sam Guttenkast, with dates to be finalized in early November.

Context and follow-up: Commissioners said tree-bank funds (developer mitigation payments) help cover plantings and some maintenance services; they urged the city to consider grants and to restore a dedicated urban-forestry staff position or equipment (such as a city-owned stump grinder). The commission said it will provide planting details and post materials to the meeting minutes so volunteers and residents can sign up.

Ending: Residents and commission members asked city council and planning commission members to clarify when stump grinding will be provided by the city and to consider a code change adding stump grinding to contractor obligations when the city removes a tree.